Martin Daly: Calls for Urgent Action on Children's Spinal Care
Martin Daly warned that progress on children's spinal services remains insufficient and urged urgent action on capacity, governance and communication. He set out recent activity and waiting‑time figures, welcomed clinicians' work, and called for a statutory inquiry and stronger accountability.
Up to the end of October, 446 spinal procedures have been completed this year and 462 new cases have been added to the list. Martin Daly said this indicates cases are being added faster than they are being cleared and that demand is rising.
He noted measurable improvements - 68% of children are now waiting less than six months, up from 56% a year ago, waiting lists over a year have halved, and outpatient lists have fallen by almost 50%. However, he warned the gains are fragile and the service is heavily stretched, with one retirement or one ICU bed shortage able to derail a week’s worth of surgeries.
Martin Daly listed recent reviews and examinations including the HICWA report, the Boston review, internal examinations and the ongoing Nagayim review. He described an audit into governance and equity of access as essential and overdue, and said the planned statutory inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services must be a turning point rather than a box‑ticking exercise.
He welcomed the work of clinicians, the spinal management unit, multidisciplinary teams and the new transition pathway for adolescents, but said they need more support, theatre capacity, consultants and surge planning. He insisted integration of CHI into the HSE may be right long‑term but structure alone will not fix culture, and called for consistent communication so parents are treated as partners. As a GP, Martin Daly said he will continue to press for urgency, honesty and accountability so families see day‑to‑day improvements.
Waiting list data and service activity
Up to the end of October, 446 spinal procedures have been completed this year and 462 new cases have been added to the list. Martin Daly said this indicates cases are being added faster than they are being cleared and that demand is rising.
Signs of improvement amid fragility
He noted measurable improvements - 68% of children are now waiting less than six months, up from 56% a year ago, waiting lists over a year have halved, and outpatient lists have fallen by almost 50%. However, he warned the gains are fragile and the service is heavily stretched, with one retirement or one ICU bed shortage able to derail a week’s worth of surgeries.
Reviews, audit and statutory inquiry
Martin Daly listed recent reviews and examinations including the HICWA report, the Boston review, internal examinations and the ongoing Nagayim review. He described an audit into governance and equity of access as essential and overdue, and said the planned statutory inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services must be a turning point rather than a box‑ticking exercise.
Demand for capacity, communication and accountability
He welcomed the work of clinicians, the spinal management unit, multidisciplinary teams and the new transition pathway for adolescents, but said they need more support, theatre capacity, consultants and surge planning. He insisted integration of CHI into the HSE may be right long‑term but structure alone will not fix culture, and called for consistent communication so parents are treated as partners. As a GP, Martin Daly said he will continue to press for urgency, honesty and accountability so families see day‑to‑day improvements.
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Transcript
Minister, every one of us in this house has met families whose lives have been shaped by scoliosis or spina bifida. These are families who don't have the luxury of waiting until next year for improvements. They need treatment now. As a GP, I've seen how timely spinal care can change the entire trajectory of a child's life, and that perspective shapes what I want to say today. Yes, progress is being made, but we have a long way to go before any of us can be satisfied. We need to be honest. Too many children have waited too long for spinal procedures, and while some indicators are now moving in the right direction, nobody should pretend that the job is done or that families can suddenly feel reassured. They don't, and I don't blame them. Up to the end of October, 446 spinal procedures have been completed, slightly more than last year, but demand is rising even faster. 462 new cases have been added to the list this year. That tells its own story. We are adding cases more quickly than we are clearing them. There are improvements. 68% of children are now waiting less than six months, compared to 56% a year ago. Those waiting over a year have halved. Outpatient lists have fallen by almost 50%. These are signs of a service that is trying to pull itself out of a very difficult period, but it's also a reminder that the gains are fragile, and that the system is still heavily stretched, especially when one retirement or one ICU bed shortage can derail a week's worth of surgeries. I welcome the hard work of clinicians, the spinal management unit, the multidisciplinary teams, the new transition pathway for adolescents, because it is their efforts that are turning numbers into reality for families. But I will also say this, they need more support, more capacity and more consistent communication structures. Families cannot be left chasing letters, clarifications and updates. The various reviews, the HICWA report, the Boston review, the internal examinations and the ongoing Nagayim review are not comfortable reading, nor should they be. If anything, they show that oversight didn't come soon enough. The audit into governance and equity of access is essential and frankly overdue. Families deserve transparency, not a maze of inconsistent processes and varying standards. The planned statutory inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis service is a necessary step. It is not a tick box. It is not a gesture. It must be a turning point. I want to acknowledge the families and the advocates whose persistence has brought us to this point. They have shown more courage and patience than any system should ever demand of them. As for the integration of CHI into the HSE, it may well be the right long-term move. But let's be clear, structure alone won't fix culture. Governance changes must be matched with accountability and day-to-day improvements felt by real families. Colleagues, progress is real, but it is not enough. We need more theatre capacity, more consultants, better planning for surges in demand and communication that treats parents as partners rather than supplicants. If we want families to regain trust, we have to earn it. As a GP and as someone who believes the health system should serve the most vulnerable first. I will continue pushing for urgency, honesty and accountability because these children deserve nothing less. Thank you.